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DirecTV to launch The History Channel HD
MUMBAI: US broadcaster The History Channel (THC) and pay TV platform DirecTV have announced that DirecTV will be the first to launch The History Channel HD. This is a high definition television network, scheduled to debut in September 2007. In addition, A&E HD, which debuted in 4Q 2006, will also launch on DIRECTV in September. |
THC HD will simulcast the entire lineup of original, non-fiction series and specials. The HD experience will serve to create a stunning new dimension for the storytelling that the channel provides. THC HD will feature a diverse range of programming including the series Lost Worlds, Dogfights, Digging for the Truth, Cities of the Underworld, and Mega Disasters, and the recently announced Ice Road Truckers, The Universe and Human Weapon as well as specials such as Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed, The Lost Book of Nostradamus. |
AETN executive VP distribution David Zagin says, “The History Channel HD will give our History fanatics an unparalleled view of History with stunning clarity and rich perspective that they will find nowhere else on the television landscape. We are equally delighted that DIRECTV, one of the nation’s largest programming distributors, will be there with us from the beginning of this exciting launch,” said Zagin. “We look forward to many more partnerships with distributors to bring The History Channel HD to their consumers.” DirecTV executive VP strategy and development Derek Chang says, “The History Channel has a large and passionate following among our customers and we’re looking forward to being the first to provide them with their favorite programming in true HD. “Both The History Channel HD and A&E HD exemplify the kind of high quality programming that we’ll offer DirecTV customers as we begin a significant expansion of HD channels this fall.” |
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
